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Dominicanos Unidos celebrate Independence Day

Dominican’s Unidos de Wisconsin will celebrate the Dominican Republic’s Independence Day Saturday with a dinner and dance gala at American Serb Hall, 5101 W. Oklahoma Ave.

This is the fourth year the Wisconsin organization has thrown a celebration to mark the independence day of the Dominican Republic and the event is sold out, said Julia Reyes, the presidents of Domincanos.

More than 450 tickets have been sold for the gala which will feature island food, along with music and dance from a variety of Central American, Latin American and Caribbean countries, she said.

Dominican independence is observed on February 27. This will mark the 169th anniversary of independence from Haitian rule.

Dominican’s Unidos was founded in May 2009 by Reyes and Benito Vilma who wanted to start an organization to assist the Dominican community in Milwaukee and the area.

The all-volunteer, nonprofit organization works to bring officials from the Dominican consulate in Chicago to Milwaukee to assist the documents and other information. It works to help new arrivals get jobs and access to other services.

“More immigrants from the Dominican Republic are coming to Milwaukee and when they arrive they feel like orphans because they don’t have connections,” said Vilma, a musician, who came here 10 years ago.

“We formed the group to help those from our country.”

Part of the proceeds from the gala will also be used to assist those in Barrio La Pared, the Dominican city the group has adopted. Working through a local church, the group has sent school supplies, food and school uniforms over the last three years, Reyes said.

In time, the group would like to have a Dominican House that can be a cultural and gathering house to provide tutoring, music and other services and programs, said Reyes. It’s estimated there are between 2,000 to 4,000 Dominicans living in Milwaukee and throughout the Milwaukee, Madison, Beloit and Kenosha area, said Reyes.

Born in the Dominican Republic, Reyes moved to Puerto Rico as a child. Her family moved to Milwaukee in 1998. She’s now an accountant for Palermo’s Pizza.

“While our main focus is helping those from the Dominican Republic, we also help other nationalities if they come to us for help,” she said.

About Georgia Pabst

Georgia Pabst is a general assignment reporter whose areas of coverage include Milwaukee County government, the Latino community, non-profits and neighborhoods.